Literature and mask: a comparative study of their functioning as institutions

No Abstract. Tydskrif vir Letterkunde Vol. 44 (1) 2007: pp. 168-18

Perceptions et strategies d’adaptation des producteurs agricoles aux changements climatiques au nord-ouest de la region des Savanes du Togo

Cette étude se propose d’inventorier les perceptions et les stratégies locales d’adaptions des producteurs aux changements climatiques. L’étude a été conduite auprès de 300 producteurs agricoles choisis par tirage aléatoire randomisé au Nord-Ouest de la région des Savanes. Les résultats ont montré que les producteurs agricoles perçoivent clairement les changements à travers les paramètres climatiques tels que la pluviométrie, la température. Ces changements se traduisent par une diminution et une irrégularité des pluies (68 %), de fortes températures (62 %), une plus grande fréquence de poches de sécheresse (50 %), un rallongement de la saison sèche (60 %). Ils ont pour conséquences l’accroissement de l’insécurité alimentaire (81 %), l’endettement (39 %). Face à ces changements, les producteurs adoptent des stratégies d’adaptation dont les plus répandues sont l’adaptation variétale, l’utilisation des techniques de conservation des eaux et des sols, l’utilisation de la fumure minérale et organique. La combinaison de ces pratiques endogènes avec les connaissances scientifiques peut permettre d’asseoir de véritables stratégies d’adaptation.Mots clés: Changements climatiques, adaptation, pratiques endogènes, résilienceEnglish Title: Perceptions and adaptation strategies of agricultural producers to climate change in the northwest of the Savannah region of TogoEnglish AbstractThis study proposes to inventory the perceptions and the local strategies of adaptations of producers to climate change. The study was conducted on 300 agricultural producers chosen by random selection in the north-west of the Savannah region. The results showed that agricultural producers clearly perceived climate changes through parameters such as rainfall, temperature. These changes result in decreased and irregular rainfalls (68 %), high temperatures (62 %), higher frequency of drought pockets (50 %), longer dry season (60 %). The consequences of these changes consist in increased food insecurity (81 %), indebtedness (39 %). In response to these changes, producers adopt adaptation strategies. The most common adaptation strategies adopted by producers are the varietal adaptation, the use of soil and water conservation techniques, the use of mineral and organic fertilizers. The combination of these endogenous practices with scientific knowledge can make it possible to establish real adaptation strategies.Keywords: Climate change, adaptation, endogenous practices, resilienc

Amélioration de la valeur nutritionnelle des gousses de Piliostigma reticulatum (D. C.) Hochst dans l’alimentation du bétail en période de soudure

Dans la zone nord soudanienne du Burkina Faso, les gousses de Piliostigma reticulatum sont intensément utilisées pendant la saison sèche comme aliment d’appoint pour le bétail. L’objectif de cette étudeest d’améliorer la qualité nutritionnelle de ces gousses pour optimiser leur apport. Neuf rations comprenant chacune des gousses de P. reticulatum (70 p.100) et du foin de Pennisetum pedicellatum (30 p.100) distribuéesà raison de 50 g MS/kg p0,75 ont été testées sur des ovins de race Djallonké. Les gousses ont subi différents traitements physiques (concassage, mouture) suivis ou non de traitement à l’urée auxquelles est associé dans certains cas du charbon de bambou à des doses de 0,25 ou 0,50 g/kg PV dans le but d’influencer l’action des tanins. L’utilisation de l’urée a entraîné, quelle que soit la forme de distribution, une amélioration de la digestibilité, surtout celle des matières azotées en raison de l’augmentation significative de leur teneur. L’adjonction du charbon de bambou n’a amélioré la digestibilité des gousses non traitées à l’urée qu’à la dose de 0,50 g/kg PV. Par contre, sur des gousses traitées à l’urée, il a permis une amélioration significative (

Faecal carriage of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in healthy volunteers and hospitalized patients in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: prevalence, resistance profile, and associated risk factors

Background: Extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) are a serious challenge to patients’ treatment. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of ESBL-PE, investigate the associated resistance, and analyze the associated risk factors for acquisition of ESBL-PE.Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on healthy volunteers and inpatients. After obtaining informed consent, rectal swabs were collected from each participant for isolation of Enterobacteriaceae on Hektoen enteric agar containing 4µg/L cefotaxime. The Enterobacteriaceae isolates were identified using biochemical tests and ESBL production was confirmed by the double-disc synergy test of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. Antibiotic susceptibility test of each isolate was done by the disc diffusion method and interpreted using the recommendations of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) clinical  breakpoints version 5.0.Results: During the study period, prevalence of faecal ESBL-PE among the study participants was 54.5% (103/189); 53.5% among healthy volunteers and 55.7% among inpatients (p=0.87). The major ESBL-PE isolates was Escherichia coli (71%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (16%). The isolates in hospitalized patients were resistant to norfloxacin (84.2%), cotrimoxazole (89.5%), and gentamicin (7.0%). The isolates from healthy volunteers were resistant to norfloxacin (86.2%), cotrimoxazole (82.8%), and gentamicin (1.7%).Gender, age, and previous antibiotic use were not significantly associated with carriage of ESBL-PE (p=0.51).Conclusion: The high prevalence of ESBL-PE in this study is worrying. There is an urgent need to develop measures to monitor and limit the spread of these multidrug-resistant organisms in healthcare facilities and the community in Burkina Faso. Keywords: faecal carriage, ESBL-PE, healthy volunteers, inpatients, Burkina Fas

OFDM codée pour le haut débit en fibre optique avec les codes correcteurs convolutifs, BCH, RS et LDPC

Ce document présente une comparaison des performances des modulations OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) codées pour la transmission optique haut débit à l’aide des techniques de codage canal convolutif, BCH, LDPC et Reed Solomon. L’évaluation des performances se base d’une part sur l’EVM (Error Vector Magnitude) afin d’apprécier les effets des imperfections du canal optique; et d’autre part sur l’estimation du taux d’erreur binaire (BER) en fonction de l’OSNR. Les simulations sont réalisées au débit de 10Gbit/s sur 1000 Km dans un environnement de cosimulation avec les logiciels VPITransmissionMaker et Matlab. Les résultats ont révélé que ces codes correcteurs d’erreurs et en particulier les codes LDPC sont bien efficaces et adaptées au haut débit, ils constituent des solutions satisfaisantes pour le COFDM dans la réduction des effets de la dispersion chromatique, de la PMD, des interférences entre symboles (ISI) et des non linéarités.Mots-clés : OFDM, haut débit, BER, fibre optique, codes correcteurs d’erreur.Coded OFDM for high-speed transmission in optical fiber with convolutional, BCH, RS and LDPC codes This paper presents a comparison of the performances of coded OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) for optical broadband transmission using convolutional, BCH, Reed Solomon and LDPC channel coding techniques. The performance evaluation is based firstly on the EVM (Error Vector Magnitude) to assess the effects of imperfections in the channel, and secondly on the estimated bit error rate (BER) based on OSNR. The simulations are performed at a rate of 10Gb/s over 1000 km in a cosimulation environment using VPITransmissionMaker and Matlab software. The results showed that the error correcting codes and particularly LDPC codes are well suited and efficient for broadband, they provide satisfactory solutions for COFDM in reducing the effects of chromatic dispersion, PMD, Inter-symbol interference (ISI) and nonlinearities.Keywords : OFDM, broadband, BER, optical fiber, error correcting codes

Urinary tract infection among pregnant women at Bobo-Dioulasso: epidemiological and bacteriological aspects

Urinary tract infections are the first infections in pregnant women and can cause serious complications during pregnancy. In order to improve its management in low income country like Burkina Faso, we conducted a prospect cross-sectional study, to describe its epidemiological and biological aspects in pregnant women at Souro Sanou hospital at Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso).Epidemiologically, the frequency of urinary tract infection was 27.5% and affected mostly 21 to 30 years pregnant women. Bacteriologically, the main isolates found were: E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Serratia, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter and Candida. The 81 isolates showed a good sensitivity to cephalosporin (C3G), aminoglycosides, oxacillin and erythromycin. These antibiotics are recommended for pregnant women before urinary cytobacteriological exam.Keywords: Antibiotic, Bobo-Dioulasso, E. coli, pregnant woman, urinary tract infection, urinary cytobacteriological exa

Campylobacter Spp. Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in a Developing Country, Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Data on campylobacteriosis are almost nonexistent in Burkina Faso. In this study conducted from 2006 to 2008 in Ouagadougou, stool specimens and sociodemographic data were collected from 1 246 patients attending the university teaching hospital for enteritis. Stool samples were analyzed for the presence of Campylobacter by the direct culture method on selective mCCDA agar followed by antibiotic susceptibility testing on the isolated strains. The isolation rate of Campylobacter was 2.3%,comprising of the following species C. jejuni (51.8%), C. coli (13.8%), and C. upsaliensis (3.5%). However, 30.9% of the isolates were unidentified. No resistant strain was found to gentamicin. The resistance to amoxicillin+clavulanic acid (3.4%) was lower than those (10.3-34.5%) to the other antibiotics: erythromycin (10.3%), tetracycline (10.3%), ciprofloxacin (13.8%), amoxicillin (24.1%) and ceftriaxone (34.5%), nalidixic acid (34.5%). Significant associations were found between Campylobacter enteritis and contact with animals (P=0.03), and HIV infection (P<0.0001), in contrast to other sociodemographic and seasonal factors. From the data obtained Amoxicillin+clavulanic acid appear to be the first choice for treatment. The implementation of a national program may be helpful in controlling the spread of the disease and the increase of resistance to antibiotics.Keywords: Campylobacter, epidemiology, HIV, drug resistance, Burkina Fas